UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Sugar mill body welcomes SC order

Q1. Under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, which one of the following is the nodal Union Ministry under which the procurement of ethanol by public sector Oil Marketing Companies is operationalised?

  • A. Ministry of Food and Public Distribution
  • B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  • C. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare

Q2. In the context of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, the term 'Dedicated Ethanol Plant (DEP)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A standalone distillery set up exclusively to produce ethanol, not integrated with a sugar manufacturing unit
  • B. A cooperative sugar mill that has been converted to a multi-feedstock plant under the 2025 interest subvention scheme
  • C. A refinery unit of an Oil Marketing Company that blends ethanol with petrol before retail dispatch
  • D. A grain-based distillery owned by the Food Corporation of India for utilising damaged food grains

Q3. With reference to the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme in India, consider the following statements: 1. Public sector Oil Marketing Companies are the designated procurement agencies for ethanol under the programme. 2. Long-Term Offtake Agreements (LTOAs) are signed between Oil Marketing Companies and Dedicated Ethanol Plants. 3. The 20% ethanol blending target was advanced from 2030 to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 by amending the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018. 4. Sugar mills with integrated distilleries are statutorily barred from supplying ethanol to Oil Marketing Companies under the programme. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Public sector Oil Marketing Companies are the designated procurement agencies for ethanol under the programme.
  2. Long-Term Offtake Agreements (LTOAs) are signed between Oil Marketing Companies and Dedicated Ethanol Plants.
  3. The 20% ethanol blending target was advanced from 2030 to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26 by amending the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018.
  4. Sugar mills with integrated distilleries are statutorily barred from supplying ethanol to Oil Marketing Companies under the programme.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q4. As reported by the Government for the Ethanol Supply Year 2024-25, what was the approximate average ethanol blending percentage achieved by public sector Oil Marketing Companies under the EBP Programme as on 31 July 2025?

  • A. About 10%
  • B. About 15%
  • C. About 19%
  • D. About 25%

Q5. Under which one of the following policy instruments was the target of 20% ethanol blending in petrol advanced from the year 2030 to Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26?

  • A. National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 (as amended in 2022)
  • B. Integrated Energy Policy, 2006
  • C. National Auto Fuel Policy, 2003
  • D. National Bio-Energy Mission, 2009